Stringed musical instrument



Nov. 15, 1932. N. w. SCHIRESON 1,887,861

STRINGE'D MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001;. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet AZ. 717. SCH/B55171! T TUBA/EYE PatentedNov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NATHAN W. SCHIRESON, LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SCHIRESON 3305., OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA, A COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF NATHAN W.

SCHIRESON AND JACOB SCHIRESON STBINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Applicationfiled October 29, 1931. Serial No. 571,781.

The invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments. 77

An object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple and durableconstruction of stringed instrument, such as a gultar or the like, inwhich the sounds or notes produced by the instrument are amplifiedwithout distortion. In the conventional stringed instrument, such as aguitar, there is a hollow body serving as the sound box of theinstrument. The vibrations of the strings are amplified b 7 this hollowbody to a certain extent whici ordinarily is regarded as adequate.However, in the present construction, although there is a hollow bodypresent similar to any conventional hollow body, there is also anamplifying construction associated therewith which will amplify thesounds produced by the vibrating strings to a greater extent than thatwhich is capable of being accomplished by the hollow body alone.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stringedinstrument having a special sounding board which is separate from thebody of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction having asounding board beneath which there is a member which provides aconcavity open toward the sounding board. This member presents surfaceswhich are spherical as distinguished from conical. By having thesurfaces so formed, sound waves striking the surfaces will be reflectedand at the same time dispersed, thus increasing the effective volume ofsound which can be heard.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved stringed instrument.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the sounding board.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cover.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the instrument, the cover and strings beingshown as having been removed to illustrate internal construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar partsthroughout, I have illustrated theinvention as having been embodied upon a guitar although the inventionmay be incorporated in any other form of stringed musicaliIIStIUIDQIl'i. The guitar illustrated has a bottom 10, side walls 11,and a top 12, within which there is formed a large circular opening 13.A circular ring 14 is mounted on the under side of the top 12- aroundaperture 13 and provides a shoulder 15. This ring may be supported orreinforced as by posts or c01- umns 16. The shoulder 15 provides a seatfor the edges of a sheet metal concavo-convex member 18. Near the edgesof this concavoconvex member 18 there is formed an annular head 19serving to stiffen this member adjacent its edges and within the beadthere is a short annular flat portion 20. \Vithin the short annular flatportion the sheet metal member presents av large concave areaon itsupper side and a convex area on its lower side. The curvature orformation of these areas are such that they substantially conform to aportion of a true sphere, although there may be a slight departure froma true sphere under certain circumstances. Above the sheet metal memberthere is positioned a circular sounding board 23 having apertures 24formed therein. This sounding board may be formed of any one of a numberof different materials but I prefer to employ spruce wood which has beensuitably seasoned. This sounding board carries a ring 25 adjacent itsedges which rests upon the annular flat surface 20 of the sheet metalmember 18. The sounding board is also stifi'ened and reinforced bytransversely extending cleats 26 and 27 secured to the under side of thesounding board. The sheet metal of member 18 is very thin, beingpreferably about 32 gauge aluminum. lVhile the curvature of the largecentral area and the presence of the bead 19 tend to stiffen thismember, it nevertheless has some resiliency. Consequently it, does notform an absolutely rigid support for the sounding board 23 but may giveslightly under the pressure placed on the sounding board. On top of thesounding board there is positioned a bridge 28 having string seats inthe form of notches 29 for the reception of strings 30. Apertures 31extend through the bridge beneath each string seat. The purpose of theseapertures is to increase the resilience of the bridge slightly so thatthe bridge will not be a rigid solid body. Over the opening 13 there ispositioned-a cover plate 33 the central portion of, which, indicated at34, is flat. The sides 35converge upwardly to points indicated at 36where they are bent downwardly tow'ard'the flat central portion 34. Inthis manner the flat central portion 34: provides a relatively widegroove p in the cover plate between the upwardly convergent sides. In"the bottom of this groove there is formed a rectangular opening 37 for:e reception of the bridge 28. This opening is formed by striking outaportion of the g body of the cover plate to form abridging of the sheetmetal member. The sounding board serves to amplify these vibrations anto vibrate the body of air between the sounding board and the sheetmetal member 18. Some of the sound strikes the concave surface of thesheet metal member so that this sheet metal member acts as a soundreflector. The sound reflector being spherical in shape reflects soundwaves in accordance with well established physical laws wherein theangle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflece,

tion. The shape of the reflector, therefore, in reflecting the soundcauses a dispersion of sound to take place so that a note produced bythe'instrument may be heard clearly in virtually any direction above theinstrument. Although I am not prepared to set forth any definite theoryas to exactly what takes place, I do not believe that the sole functionof the sheet metal member 18 is a sound reflector. Thismember issupported at its edges only and as the sounding board rests on themember inwardly of its edges, the central portion of the member 18 islikewise free to vibrate. It is thought that this member also vibratesin accordance with vibrations of the sounding board so that it has thefunction not only of reflecting sound but also as an auxiliarysoundingboard. Such being the case, the body of air within the hollowbody but outside of the sheet metal member 18 will be vibrated thereby,thus amplifying the sound.

from a conical structure which usually has the tendency to confine thesound but it also materially strengthens the sheet metal. I am able touse a very thin sheet aluminum so that the weight or mass of the member18 is very small, rendering it capable of being easily and quicklyinfluenced by the vibrations imparted to it. From actual experiment Ifind that a note produced by striking or picking a string of theinstrument can be greatly amplifled without distortion. The volume ofthe note is greatly increased over that of the conventional guitar orequivalent stringed instrument yet the note will be clear and melodiouswithout any harsh or disagreeable distortion. The bridging plate 38 onthe cover may serve as a hand rest forthe hand employed in picking orstriking the strings 30 and prevents the hand of the player from comingin contact with the bridge. In this metal member are effectivelyprotected. I

. From the above described construction it will be appreciated that arelatively simple, durable amplifying constructionhas been provided forstringed instruments, which is of simple and durable construction andwhich is effectively protected.

. Various changes maybe madein the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims. a

I claim: 7 7

1. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with opening in its top,an upwardly concave member supported within the body,

manner the bridge, sounding'board andsheet abridge for supporting thestrings of the instrument, and a sounding board supported at its edgesupon said member upon which the bridge is mounted. 7 1

'2. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, an upwardly concave member supported within the body, abridge forsupporting the strings of the instrument, and anapertured soundingboardsupported at its edges upon said member on which the bridgeis mounted. Ii 3. -A' stringed instrument'having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, an upwardly concave member supported within the body, a bridge forsupporting the strings of the instrument, and a sounding boardsupported. at its edges upon said member adjacent the 1 edges of saidmember on which the bridge is mounted. r i

4. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, an upwardly concave member supported within the body, a bridge forsupporting the strings of the instrument, and an apertured soun ingboard supported at its edgesupon said member adjacent the edges thereof,said sounding board constituting a support for the bridge.

5. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, a sheet metal concavo-convex member supported at its edges withinthe body with the concave side uppermost, a bridge for supportingstrings of the instrument, and a sounding board rest-- ing at its edgesupon said member upon which the bridge is mounted.

' 6. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, a sheet metal concavo-convex member supported at its edges withinthe body with the concave side uppermost, a bridge for supportingstrings of the instrument, and an apertured sounding board resting atits edges adjacent the edges of said member upon which the bridge ismounted.

7. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, a sheet metal concave-convex member supported at its edges withinthe body with the concave side uppermost, a bridge for supportingstrings of the instrument, and means for supporting the bridge upon saidmember, said member presenting surfaces which substantially conform to aportion of a true sphere.

8. A stringed instrument having a hollow body with an opening in itstop, a sheet metal concavo-convex member supported at its edges withinthe body with the concave side uppermost, a bridge for supportingstrings of the instrument, and an apertured sounding board resting atits edges adjacent the edges of said member upon which the bridge ismounted, said member presenting surfaces which substantially conform toa portion of a true sphere.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

NATHAN W. SCHIRESON.

